San Angelo may be off the beaten path and largely unheard of outside Texas, but its new state-of-the-(performing)-arts venue, SAPAC, is attracting attention — and some major, world-renowned acts.

The Vienna Boys Choir, a centuries-old vocal ensemble from Austria that has toured the world over, including the famed Carnegie Hall, will hit the SAPAC stage for a 90-minute performance at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1.

The Vienna Boys Choir will perform at the San Angelo Performing Arts Center on Nov. 1.(Photo: Lukas Beck, Photographer)

The lineup in the next couple of months also includes three chances to see “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” a Broadway musical celebration of the bespectacled ’50s rocker, Nov. 10-11; and a performance by country musician Clint Black in December.

Next spring brings Diavolo Dance Theatre, a finalist on the 2017 season of “America’s Got Talent”; humorist and writer David Sedaris; and the smash Broadway hit “Chicago.”

“In the case of ‘Buddy,’ we’re launching their season tour; we’re their first stop,” said Mark Levine, executive director of the San Angelo Performing Arts Center, 82 Gillis St. “They’re going to be rehearsing here for two weeks. That’s huge for us, for San Angelo.

“We’ll have ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ in February and finish out our Broadway season with ‘Chicago’ in May. These are the tours that hit Chicago, San Francisco, all the big cities; we’re getting the exact same show, so that’s exciting for us.”

Country musician Clint Black will perform in San Angelo in December.(Photo: Statesman Journal file)

Clint Black and “Chicago” have conjured up the most enthusiasm among San Angeloans, Levine said, adding of the latter act, “Everybody sort of knows 'Chicago.' It’s the longest-running American musical ever to perform on Broadway. The only show that’s played more is ‘Phantom of the Opera.’ It’s huge.

“When they did the revival in, I think, 1999, people just couldn’t stop buying tickets, and they still can’t. We’re not getting the production that is in New York, obviously, because they’re still performing in New York, but we’re getting the first national tour because it’s been touring since then.”

The U.S. touring production of "Chicago" will come to SAPAC in the spring.(Photo: Special to The News-Press)

Shows like “Buddy” and Vienna Boys Choir are routed to San Angelo, Levine said, while others such as David Sedaris are stopping here but not going to nearby cities. “Those types of artists want to expand their audience base; they want people to know they are relevant and they exist,” Levine said. “It gives them the opportunity to add to word of mouth for their events. With David Sedaris, for instance, it’s going to help sell books, and as an author that’s obviously big for him.”

David Sedaris(Photo: Ingrid Christie)

Other artists are simply suckers for a beautiful stage, Levine said, and word is getting out about SAPAC.

“I actually go to a conference twice a year, and I just got back from Columbus, Ohio, where we have the regional conference, and showed lots of agents the Murphey Performance Hall (inside SAPAC), and everyone’s so excited about it and how beautiful it is,” he said.

“If you’ve worked in the industry, you have this real love of a classic theater, and being able to take advantage of such a wonderful space. … is huge for some of their performers. They’re kind of geeks for this type of space, and they love that we are able to accommodate them in such a stunning performance hall.”

Diavolo, which was a finalist on the most recent season of "America's Got Talent," will take the stage at the San Angelo Performing Arts Center in the spring.(Photo: NBC, Trae Patton/NBC)

Acts like Diavolo, which needs a space that can accommodate enormous set pieces for its acrobatics, simply didn’t come to San Angelo prior to SAPAC opening last year.

“We (didn’t have) the space before,” Levine said. “Abilene doesn’t either, so not only do we get to show all of San Angelo (these shows), but Abilene as well. Most of the shows we’ll be presenting are going to be shows that if they’ve been to Texas, they’ve not been to West Texas.

“We’re hoping folks in Abilene can see we’re the performing arts center for Central West Texas, not just San Angelo.”

SAPAC schedule

Here are the remaining dates for 2017-18 SAPAC season. For more information and to buy tickets, visit sanangelopac.org.